The front door of Tucker House opened before Baldwin finished tying his horse outside. He was greeted by Susanna's warm smiling face as the woman rubbed her arms against the biting cold.

"She has been asking about you, sir," Susanna said as she led him up stairs. "She calls you her gentlemen caller."

"Oh no," Baldwin said as he followed her. "Perhaps I come too often."

"I am glad you do, sir," Susanna said. "You've put spark back into the wee lass' heart. She has been up and about a lot more and tried to get Clifford to take her on a carriage ride."

"Is that so?" Baldwin asked as they reached the top of the stairs.

"Aye, sir," Susanna said. "It is your brother says laughter is the best medicine."

Baldwin smiled wryly. "Minas," he said. "The optimist."

"Someone has got to be, no?" Susanna asked.

Baldwin gave her a nod. "You are right, Miss McNamara," he said making the petite woman smile.

"Shall we see your lady now?"

Baldwin couldn't stop himself from grinning and laughing.

Susanna smiled too. "You're as handsome as your father in a smile, sir," she said then led the way into May's room.

"Mr. Monhollen!" May shouted jumping up from her chair. "Look at the new pillowcase I made. Do you think Alice will like it for the baby?"

"I am certain she will love it," Baldwin said. "And I've brought something for you." Reaching into his pocket he pulled out a book and handed it over to May.

"Beautiful Joe," May read the title.

"It's all from a dog's prospective," Baldwin said. "I think you will enjoy it."

"I am certain I will, thank you," May said. Scooping up one of her kittens she returned to sitting. "Will you stay for lunch?"

Baldwin met Susanna's eyes. "I must be going unfortunately," he said. "It is a big responsibility to run this town."

"Of course," May said standing again. "Oh, I've finished Pleasant's quilt." She ran over to her bed and picked up the quilt folded there. Taking it by the edges she let the deep blue fabric unfold sending stars across the floor. "What do you think?"

Looking at the stars Baldwin swallowed a lump in his throat. "It looks wonderful she is going to love it." He turned to Susanna. "I should be going."

"I'll show you out."

"I'll show myself out, thank you," Baldwin said. He quickly turned away before they could stop him and jogged down the stairs. Stepping into the cold he put his hat on his head and untied his horse. Climbing into the saddle he rode to the street yielding for a surrey going in the opposite direction.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Monhollen," Josie greeted from the seat as she reined the horse. "It's nice to see you out riding."

"Afternoon, Miss Langermaid," Baldwin tipped his hat. "How are your folks?"

"Very well," Josie said. "I just took my Father to the station, we saw your cousin there. He seemed to be in an awful hurry."

"Cedric?"

Josie nodded. "Is something wrong sir?"

"No," Baldwin said. "Nothing is wrong." Without another word he nudged his horse into a gallop leaving Josie confused on the road.

/

With the Hollister brothers arrested as horse thieves Florence felt the hand of justice shake hers. It was good to see the wicked get their reward. Addison on the other hand seemed less concerned and she tried to imitate his example as they walked home from church with Pleasant on Sunday afternoon.

They were talking about the delicious pot roast that awaited them at home when a man came running up to them red faced and out of breath.

"Doctor, Doctor, please you have to come my wife is having the baby!"

"Mr. Douglas, I need you to remain calm," Addison said.

"How can I remain calm when it is coming out?" Mr. Douglas boomed.

Florence stepped forward. "Mrs. Douglas is not the first woman on God's green earth to give birth," she said. "Now, sir, run ahead and tell Mrs. Douglas that the doctor is on his way and will be there shortly."

Mr. Douglas nodded and after a few awkward steps ran back to his house.

"What would I do without you, sister?" Addison said.

"Your instruments are back at the house," Florence said as they started away.

"We'll have to use what they have," Addison said. "I apologize, Pleasant."

"It is fine," Pleasant assured them. "I will warm dinner for you." Setting the siblings at ease she waved bye to them and started back for the house. There were few people still on the street as she passed through the quiet Sunday town. The shops were closed, resting well before their wakening Monday. A strong gust of wind made her hat pull at the pin that fastened it there and she stopped to adjust it.

Holding her hat down, she continued up the side walk when suddenly she was grabbed around the waist and thrown into an alley. Before she could recover she was thrown into the brick wall then again to the wet ground. Still in a daze she rolled over only to have her head pushed against the concrete and a blade pressed to her throat.

"Scream and you die."

Pleasant kept silent in tears as the man ripped through the pockets of her coat tearing her blouse's collar in the process. His hand clamped around her Bible and he pulled it out greedily. She watched him scrolling the pages as he knelt over her, dropping her Ursa Major card. Throwing the Bible he searched her person for jewelry and stepped back when he found nothing.

Pleasant kept still as she listened to the sound of his feet fleeing then slowly clasped her hands at her chest as she shivered. Stiffly she sat up and looked down the alley as the man rounded the corner into the light. Getting to her knees she picked up the card and her Bible and returned both to her pockets then stood on wobbly legs.

"Hey!"

She spun around to see a man running down the alley toward her and stepped back. "Are you all right? Ma'am, are you all right? Wait!"

Pleasant did not wait but turned and ran. She ran as fast as her tightly strung boots would carry her, soiling her moleskin skirt as she dashed through puddles. Though he heart pounded and her lungs heaved she kept running.

/

It was well after dusk when the authorities led Dr. Geiger to Pleasant. As they neared the house he saw a few residents gathered around an open cellar. Mr. Beecher who lived in the house met him halfway.

"How is she?"

"The wife says she is in a terrible state," Mr. Beecher said. When Addison tried to go forward he stopped him. "Let your sister go. It would be better for a woman."

Addison wanted to protest but instead he nodded to Florence who hurried forward and walked down into the cellar. Mrs. Beecher received her at the stairs and handed her the lantern.

"She won't speak to me," the woman said. "I hope you can reach her, Nurse Florence."

Taking the lantern Florence made her way to the back of the cellar where she found Pleasant hiding between the woodpile and the wall. "Pleasant..." she said softly. Kneeling down, she sat her nurse's kit and the lantern aside. "I came to take you home." Slowly she reached out her hand only for Pleasant to jerk away. "All right."

Pleasant slowly brought her head up. "He's out there," she said. "He's waiting to get me."

"No one is out there to get you," Florence tried to assure her.

"Yes he is," Pleasant insisted. "Dicky."

"You knew the person who attacked you this afternoon?"

Pleasant shook her head and trembled. "No," she stuttered. "Dicky is the one that did this to me."

"The burns?"

Pleasant nodded. "I tried to get away but I just wasn't strong enough," she wept. "Now he has come again to get me."

"No, Pleasant," Florence assured. "What happened today..."

"He'll get me. The Red Man."

"You really think I'll let that happen?" Florence said. "We are all here to help you and no one is going the harm you again." She turned to Mrs. Beecher. "Might I trouble you for a cup of water?"

"I'll fetch it," Mrs. Beecher said starting up the stairs. "Should it be warm?"

"Cold is fine, thank you," Florence said. "And a spoon as well, please." As Mrs. Beecher hurried to fetch the items Florence wedged herself in next to Pleasant and put her arms around her. "I won't let anything bad happen to you."

"And Dicky?"

"Don't you fear him," Florence said. "He'll have to cross Addison fist and my brother is good with a gun." When Mrs. Beecher returned with the water and the spoon Florence opened her kit and added a teaspoon of medicine to the water. "Drink this." She handed Pleasant the cup and watched her drink it down then handed it back Mrs. Beecher. "Thank you."

"Will you need more?"

"I think that should be enough for her," Florence said settling back next to Pleasant. "I gave her a hypno-sedative and it should help her sleep."

"Pray, God it will," Mrs. Beecher said. "She gave the boys quiet the fright when they came down to get wood for the stove."

"She was this way when you found her?"'

Mrs. Beecher nodded. "I think she may have been robbed, the poor thing."

"I wish it were that simple," Florence said.

"It appears to me to be a sickness of the mind," Mrs. Beecher said. "Dr. Geiger visits institutions...will he..."

"Our good doctor doesn't give up so easy," Florence said. "He visits those places to get people out if anything. Just ask Nellie Bly of the condition she found there." She adjusted Pleasant so the woman could rest against her. They wouldn't give up.

/

Dr. Geiger caught his sister in the hallway as she came out of the bedroom with a tray.

"Addison, my goodness you can't just jump out like that!" She exclaimed and walked around him.

"How is she?"

"She's eating again," Florence said as they went downstairs and into the kitchen. Setting the tray on the counter she sighed. "Though not very much. She mostly just sits quietly and she keeps asking about Polaris."

"She has regressed to how she was when we first found her," Addison said. "I don't know, Florence perhaps I should cancel my trip. I don't feel right leaving you here with all the work."

"I'll be fine," Florence said. "And you should hurry before you miss your train." Linking arms with him she led him to the door. "Pleasant isn't a problem."

Addison put on his hat. "And should she try to runaway again?"

"She won't," Florence said. "I'll make sure of it, now off with you and bring me something back this time." Waving to her brother she closed the door and returned upstairs to find Pleasant gazing out the window to the street below. "It's been snowing a lot." She looked over into Pleasant's eyes but her friend seemed to have flown away to some foreign distance.